Detail:

Asrafben Kotadia describes an innovative practice prevalent in Junagadh district of Gujarat for the storage and preservation of turmeric. Brief Asrafben Kotadia describes an innovative practice prevalent in Junagadh district of Gujarat for thestorage and preservation of turmeric. Some farmers of Junagadh district, who grow turmeric, face a storage problem due to lack of facilities and due to this are forced to sell off their produce at a low price immediately after harvest. To overcome this, some farmers have devised an innovative storage system. <p> According to Asrafben, a pit is dug deep at an elevated site and left exposed to the sun for eight toten days to dry. When the pit is dry a layer of dry wheat husk is placed at the bottom and along the walls of the pit. This layer is then covered by a sheet layer of date palm leaves. Then the packed bags of turmeric are stacked one upon another in the pit till about 20 to 25 centimetres remains from the top. In this vacant space, dry wheat husk and straw are again layered and a date palm sheet is spread over it. To make the pit air-tight, cow dung and soil are plastered over the palm sheet.According to Asrafben, a pit approximately 15 feet by 10 feet by 6.5 feet (4.58 metres by 3.05metres by 1.98 metres) can store 15 tons of green turmeric. This method ensures that turmericremains well preserved for several months. A pit is dug deep at an elevated site and left exposed to the sun for eight to ten days to dry.When the pit is dry a layer of dry wheat husk is placed at the bottom and along the walls of the pit. This layer is then covered by a sheet layer of date palm leaves. Then the packed bags of turmeric are stacked one upon another in the pit till about 20 to 25 centimetres remains from the top. In this vacant space, dry wheat husk and straw are again layered and a date palm sheet is spread over it. To make the pit air-tight, cow dung and soil are plastered over the palm sheet. According to Asrafben Kotadia, a pit approximately 15 feet by 10 feet by 6.5 feet (4.58 metres by 3.05 metres by 1.98 metres) can store 15 tons of green turmeric. This method ensures that turmeric remains well preserved for several months

Knowledge Provider / Innovator: Asrafben Amirbhai Kotadia
Agro-Ecological Zone: Arid western Plains (5.1)
Address: Junagadh
District: Ahmedabad
State: Gujarat
PIN Code 362001

Crop: Turmeric
Crop Family: Zingiberaceae
Crop Scientific Name: (Curcuma longa)
Crop Vernacular Name: Turmeric
Ingredients: Date palm leaves, dry wheat husk, straw, cow dung, soil

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PAS 1:

"Stability of water-soluble turmeric colourant in an extruded food product during storage."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026087740400216X